Camp Athens

Camp Athens is held at Camp Lone Star, which is managed by the Seventh-day Adventist Church and situated in the piney woods a few miles outside of Athens, Texas. The facility is approximately an hour’s drive southeast of downtown Dallas.

The camp offers many amenities: plenty of air-conditioned dorm space for our campers; private housing for most staff; an indoor air-conditioned gym for basketball, volleyball and pickleball; a swimming pool; air-conditioned meeting rooms for indoor activities; a small lake for water activities; fields for outdoor activities and sports; an archery range; a staff lounge; a newly constructed worship hall where we hold the Sabbath service and which overlooks the lake; and a large kitchen and dining hall. CYC has exclusive use of the entire facility throughout the duration of camp.

Activities are varied, ranging from many indoor activities, including Christian Living classes and dance, to active outdoor activities. The outdoor activities vary from year to year, depending on staff expertise. At present, we are planning water activities again—water polo at the pool and waterskiing/tubing at nearby Lake Athens.

“Open activities” are typically offered on three nights during camp. Many of the daily activities are offered at this time, but other specialty activities are offered on some nights, including capture the flag, table games, waterskiing and “camper/staff mixer” sporting activities. Also, throughout the week campers may choose to seek proficiency awards in archery, basketball, one-mile swim, volleyball, waterskiing, the five-minute planking challenge, and the Bible. The Bible proficiency award requires knowing the books of the Bible in order, reciting the 10 Commandments in order in short form, and listing the holy days and their meanings in order.

Camp Athens offers many opportunities to visit with fellow campers—at meals, joint swimming sessions and dance classes, the lakefront activity, evening activities (including dorm team-building games on some nights) and snack time, as well as on the Sabbath and during our two all-camp dances—one held early in the week and the other held the final night. On Friday night, the camp enjoys a special dinner for the camp. All lunches and dinners include a full salad bar.

Christian Living classes, daily Compass Checks, Bible Q&A sessions, and group Bible games and activities—facilitated by the ministerial staff—help give a solid base of biblical instruction as well as discussion of the yearly camp theme. Additionally, campers and staff are given the opportunity to be a part of the camp choir, which will sing during the Sabbath service. Also, they can audition to potentially offer special music during the service as well.

A note to volunteer staff: For kitchen staff, it would be helpful—although not mandatory—for you to hold a current food handler’s license. We are always in need of certified lifeguards and certified archery instructors; at least one lifeguard with an “open water” certification is needed.

Camper arrival
Campers should arrive for check-in on Sunday, July27, starting at 3 p.m. and ending at 4 p.m. We are unable to provide early check-in, so please do not arrive prior to 3 p.m.

Staff arrival
Staff should arrive for training on the Sabbath of July 26. We will hold a 3 p.m. Sabbath service on-site at camp, eat dinner afterward, and begin staff training that night after sunset.

Travel information
We provide transportation free of charge from DFW International and Dallas Love Field airports to camp and back again for those who travel by air, but please try to arrange flights to arrive between noon and 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 27, and to depart between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 3.

If you’re arriving by private vehicle, please arrive between 3 and 4 p.m. on July 27. We are unable to provide early check-in since our staff is involved with camp planning prior to 3 p.m. For extenuating circumstances, please reach out to the camp director.

For those driving, plan to pick up your camper(s) on Sunday, Aug. 3, between 9 and 10 a.m.